Abstract: A distributed control system (DCS) of an industrial process plant includes a data center storing a plant information model that includes a description of physical components, the control framework, and the control network of the plant using a modeling language. A set of exposed APIs provides DCS applications access to the model, and to an optional generic framework of the data center which stores basic structures and functions from which the DCS may automatically generate other structures and functions to populate the model and to automatically create various applications and routines utilized during run-time operations of the DCS and plant. Upon initialization, the DCS may automatically sense the I/O types of its interface ports, detect communicatively connected physical components within the plant, and automatically populate the plant information model accordingly. The DCS may optionally automatically generate related control routines and/or I/O data delivery mechanisms, HMI routines, and the like.

Abstract: A distributed control system (DCS) of an industrial process plant includes a data center storing a plant information model that includes a description of physical components, the control framework, and the control network of the plant using a modeling language. A set of exposed APIs provides DCS applications access to the model, and to an optional generic framework of the data center which stores basic structures and functions from which the DCS may automatically generate other structures and functions to populate the model and to automatically create various applications and routines utilized during run-time operations of the DCS and plant. Upon initialization, the DCS may automatically sense the I/O types of its interface ports, detect communicatively connected physical components within the plant, and automatically populate the plant information model accordingly. The DCS may optionally automatically generate related control routines and/or I/O data delivery mechanisms, HMI routines, and the like.

Abstract: Gateway devices, systems, and methods for facilitating control system upgrades including hosting a web application via a gateway device that permits configuration of the gateway device via a web browser. A redundant gateway system can be implemented such that both a primary gateway device and a secondary gateway device are used in conjunction. The web application can provide significant advantages in terms of ease of configurability and integration of legacy input/output (I/O) systems to facilitate control system upgrades in a variety of applications.

Abstract: Gateway devices, systems, and methods for facilitating control system upgrades including hosting a web application via a gateway device that permits configuration of the gateway device via a web browser. A redundant gateway system can be implemented such that both a primary gateway device and a secondary gateway device are used in conjunction. The web application can provide significant advantages in terms of ease of configurability and integration of legacy input/output (I/O) systems to facilitate control system upgrades in a variety of applications.

Abstract: A distributed control system (DCS) of an industrial process plant includes a data center storing a plant information model that includes a description of physical components, the control framework, and the control network of the plant using a modeling language. A set of exposed APIs provides DCS applications access to the model, and to an optional generic framework of the data center which stores basic structures and functions from which the DCS may automatically generate other structures and functions to populate the model and to automatically create various applications and routines utilized during run-time operations of the DCS and plant. Upon initialization, the DCS may automatically sense the I/O types of its interface ports, detect communicatively connected physical components within the plant, and automatically populate the plant information model accordingly. The DCS may optionally automatically generate related control routines and/or I/O data delivery mechanisms, HMI routines, and the like.

Abstract: A distributed control system (DCS) of an industrial process plant includes a data center storing a plant information model that includes a description of physical components, the control framework, and the control network of the plant using a modeling language. A set of exposed APIs provides DCS applications access to the model, and to an optional generic framework of the data center which stores basic structures and functions from which the DCS may automatically generate other structures and functions to populate the model and to automatically create various applications and routines utilized during run-time operations of the DCS and plant. Upon initialization, the DCS may automatically sense the I/O types of its interface ports, detect communicatively connected physical components within the plant, and automatically populate the plant information model accordingly. The DCS may optionally automatically generate related control routines and/or I/O data delivery mechanisms, HMI routines, and the like.

Abstract: A distributed control system (DCS) of an industrial process plant includes a data center storing a plant information model that includes a description of physical components, the control framework, and the control network of the plant using a modeling language. A set of exposed APIs provides DCS applications access to the model, and to an optional generic framework of the data center which stores basic structures and functions from which the DCS may automatically generate other structures and functions to populate the model and to automatically create various applications and routines utilized during run-time operations of the DCS and plant. Upon initialization, the DCS may automatically sense the I/O types of its interface ports, detect communicatively connected physical components within the plant, and automatically populate the plant information model accordingly. The DCS may optionally automatically generate related control routines and/or I/O data delivery mechanisms, HMI routines, and the like.

Abstract: Techniques for physically removing and replacing a simplex I/O component include plant personnel placing the component into a “REPLACEABLE” state via a user interface of the component. In response, the simplex I/O component informs the I/O subsystem thereof. The I/O subsystem stores a record of the component's REPLACEABLE state and begins to hold data values (e.g., field device values) most recently received from the component. When the I/O subsystem detects that the simplex I/O component is uncommunicative (e.g., due to being removed and replaced), based on the stored record of the “REPLACEABLE” state, the I/O subsystem retrieves the most recently received held data value and transmits it to a controller, thereby maintaining controlled (e.g., non-disruptive) execution of a control loop. When the replacement simplex I/O component initializes to an “IN-SERVICE” state, the I/O subsystem updates its state record accordingly, and resumes forwarding live field data values to the controller.

Abstract: In a method for facilitating creation of a map of a real-world, process control environment, locations of a mobile device are tracked as a user moves through a mapped environment. A camera of the mobile device captures images of the mapped environment as the user moves through the mapped environment, and the user indicates an intention to add a node to the map. One or more images of the captured images are provided to a machine learning (ML) model, and the ML model is trained to process images to recognize object types. The ML model may predict an object type corresponding to a specific object within a field of view of the camera. A display of the mobile device may then superimpose, on a real-world view presented to the user, an indication of the predicted object type to facilitate user designation of a descriptor for the new node.

Abstract: A distributed control system (DCS) of an industrial process plant includes a data center storing a plant information model that includes a description of physical components, the control framework, and the control network of the plant using a modeling language. A set of exposed APIs provides DCS applications access to the model, and to an optional generic framework of the data center which stores basic structures and functions from which the DCS may automatically generate other structures and functions to populate the model and to automatically create various applications and routines utilized during run-time operations of the DCS and plant. Upon initialization, the DCS may automatically sense the I/O types of its interface ports, detect communicatively connected physical components within the plant, and automatically populate the plant information model accordingly. The DCS may optionally automatically generate related control routines and/or I/O data delivery mechanisms, HMI routines, and the like.

Abstract: In a method for facilitating creation of a map of a real-world, process control environment, locations of a mobile device are tracked as a user moves through a mapped environment. A camera of the mobile device captures images of the mapped environment as the user moves through the mapped environment, and the user indicates an intention to add a node to the map. One or more images of the captured images are provided to a machine learning (ML) model, and the ML model is trained to process images to recognize object types. The ML model may predict an object type corresponding to a specific object within a field of view of the camera. A display of the mobile device may then superimpose, on a real-world view presented to the user, an indication of the predicted object type to facilitate user designation of a descriptor for the new node.

Abstract: In a method of mapping a real-world process control environment, a mobile device is registered at a reference location, and positions and orientations of the mobile device are tracked using an inertial measurement unit. A user input indicating that a new node is to be added to a 3D map of the process control environment is detected, and a 3D position of a real-world object relative to the reference location is determined, or caused to be determined, based on a tracked position and orientation of the mobile device. A node database is caused to add the new node to the 3D map of the process control environment, at least by causing the 3D position of the real-world object to be stored in association with the new node.

Abstract: In a method for increasing accuracy of augmented reality information presented to a user navigating a real-world mapped environment, a specific object within a field of view of a camera of the user's mobile device is identified, at least by predicting an object type by a machine learning model processing images captured by the camera, and identifying a node that corresponds to the object type within a map database representing the mapped environment. A location associated with the node is retrieved from the map database, and is used to update or confirm one or more estimated locations of the mobile device. Digital information is caused to be superimposed on a real-world view presented to the user via a display of the mobile device, the digital information being selected based at least in part on the updated or confirmed one or more estimated locations of the mobile device.

Abstract: In a method of providing virtual enhanced vision to a user of an augmented reality (AR) mobile device, it is determined that a first node associated with a map of a process control environment corresponds to a first real-world object currently within a field of view of a camera of the AR mobile device. A relationship between the first node and one or more other nodes is determined, with the relationship indicating that one or more other objects corresponding to other nodes are at least partially obscured by the first object. At least partially in response to determining the relationship, one or more digital models or images depicting the other object(s) is/are retrieved from memory. A display of the AR mobile device is caused to present the retrieved digital models or images to the user while the first object is in the field of view of the camera.

Abstract: In a method of facilitating interaction between a user of an augmented reality (AR) mobile device and a first real-world object, a display device is caused to superimpose digital information on portions of a process control environment within a field of view of a camera of the device. The superimposed information is associated with nodes in a map of the environment, and the nodes correspond to other objects in the environment. The display is caused to indicate a direction to the first object. After detecting a user input that indicates selection of the first object, the display is caused to superimpose, on a portion of the process control environment currently within the field of view, a digital model or image of the first object. A user interface is caused to provide one or more virtual controls and/or one or more displays associated with the first object.

Abstract: In a method of mapping a real-world process control environment, a mobile device is registered at a reference location, and positions and orientations of the mobile device are tracked using an inertial measurement unit. A user input indicating that a new node is to be added to a 3D map of the process control environment is detected, and a 3D position of a real-world object relative to the reference location is determined, or caused to be determined, based on a tracked position and orientation of the mobile device. A node database is caused to add the new node to the 3D map of the process control environment, at least by causing the 3D position of the real-world object to be stored in association with the new node.

Abstract: A method of messaging control is implemented in a plant wide monitoring apparatus. A computer based framework infrastructure communicates with monitoring applications throughout the plant that are implemented on computers, monitors and computer-based applications. Sensors are placed on machinery and monitors receive sensor signals and generate event signals in response to defined physical occurrences, such as when vibration in a machine is exceeding a defined limit or a sensor is failing. A messaging application in the framework infrastructure generates messages corresponding to the event signals. The messages are transmitted to users based on send rules and suppression rules, which are user configurable. The send rules identify messages to be sent or not sent to a particular user based on characteristics of event signals. The suppression rules prevent the transmission of a message based on both the content of a particular event signal plus an external factor, such as a prior event signal.

Abstract: A performance monitoring system enables users of computing devices to easily view performance indicators for any of a number of different process control sites. A computing device displays a graphical user interface (GUI) that enables a user to identity one or more process control sites he or she is interested in monitoring. The computing device communicates with one or more servers associated with the process control site(s) to receive and display a set of performance indicators tailored to the selected process control sites and to the user's interests. In some instances, the user selects multiple sites and the system acts as an aggregator that selects, prioritizes, and/or categorizes (based on any of a number of different factors) performance indicators to be provided to the user for the multiple sites.

Abstract: In a method of mapping a real-world process control environment, a mobile device is registered at a reference location, and 3D positions and orientations of the mobile device are tracked using an inertial measurement unit. A user input indicating that a new node is to be added to a 3D map of the process control environment is detected, and a 3D position of a real-world object relative to the reference location is determined, or caused to be determined, based on a tracked 3D position and orientation of the mobile device. A node database is caused to add the new node to the 3D map of the process control environment, at least by causing the 3D position of the real-world object to be stored in association with the new node.

Abstract: In a method for increasing accuracy of augmented reality information presented to a user navigating a real-world mapped environment, a specific object within a field of view of a camera of the user's mobile device is identified, at least by predicting an object type by a machine learning model processing images captured by the camera, and identifying a node that corresponds to the object type within a map database representing the mapped environment. A location associated with the node is retrieved from the map database, and is used to update or confirm one or more estimated locations of the mobile device. Digital information is caused to be superimposed on a real-world view presented to the user via a display of the mobile device, the digital information being selected based at least in part on the updated or confirmed one or more estimated locations of the mobile device.